Method of floating sunken or stranded vessels.



No. 851,270. PATENTBD APR. 23, 1907.

I w. w. WOTHERSBOON & a. 0. KING. METHOD OF FLOATING SUNKEN 0R STRANDED VESSELS.

APPLIOATIONI'ILED m. 7, 19

2 SHEETS-BHBBT 1.

No. 851,270. PATENTED APR. 23, 1907.

W. W. WOTHERSPOON & R. .0. KING.

METHOD OF FLOATING SfINKEN 0R STRANDED VESSELS.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.7,1907.

28HEETS-BHBET H.

UNITED I STATES PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM WALLACEWOTHERSPOON, OF NEW YORK, AND ROBERT OWEN KING, OF NORTH TONAWANDA,'NEW YORK. v

. METHOD OF FLOATING SUNKEN OR STRANDED VESSELS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 23, 1907.

Application filed-Tannery 7. 1907'. Serial No. 851,175.

.Vessels, of which the following is a specification. r

This invention relates to the means employedifor raising or removing stranded or sunken vessels, and the invention consists of thevim roved method, designed more particular y for the floatin of stranded or partially submerged ,vesse s, where the injury causing their wrecked condition is due to the leakage of water into the hold, either through a hole stove therein or through openings formed by other causes.

In itsbroad comprehension our improved method involves the treatment of. the wrecked vessel so as to render the compartment or hold where the injury has occurred,

air-tight or substantially so; the introduction into said hold or compartment of air under pressure to expel the water; and finally the provision of means for permitting access by workmen into the hold while. the pressure is maintained in order that proper repairs may be made. y

In the practical application of our improved method .to a stranded vessel, where .the water has leaked into a hold or compartment through a hole formed by the .vessel going on a rock, the ordinary. and usual commumcations of said com artment with the outside, such as the hate way, funnels, port I holes or other openings, according to the nature of the compartment, are closed air-- tight or substantially so by suitable means, so thata pressure'of air may be maintained therein to expel the Ileakin' water. The compartment is braced, preferably on the outslde, by appropriate means in orderthat the deck or its walls may withstand the internal 'ressure to which itwill be subjected -when t e air is introduced. An air-lock is thenapplied to the compartment, referway, in order'to permit workmen to descend into the injured hold and repair the leak, while the pressure is maintained to keep the water out. 'Air under pressure is then introduced into the compartment fromany suitable source, with the result that the water therein will be expelled, and workmen may enter through the air-lock and make the necessary repairs to the leak, either tem orary repairs, such as will enable the vesse to be towed into port, or permanent repairs, according to the nature of the injury.

In the accompanying drawings ;-Figure 1 represents a view of a stranded vessel resting on a rock with-a hole stove in one of the compartments or holds, and the latter filled with water. Fig. 2 is a similar view. showing the compartment rendered air-tightso: as to receive the a1r pressure, showing also the com plied to the compartment, and means for t s introduction into the compartment of air under pressure to expel the water. v

Referring to the drawings:A represents thehull of-a vessel divided into compartments B B,etc., one of which B as shown in Fig. 1, has a hole O. stove therein, and which compartment has filled with water causing the vessel to settle on a'rock. The leaking compartment is provided with the usual hatchLway c.

In applying our improved method, the first step is to brace or strengthen the top or deck portion of the hold so that it will with! stand without injury the internal pressure to which it will besubjected when air under pressure is introduced. This strengthening may be accomplished in any appropriate manner, preferably, however, by beams or braces D applied between the top or deck of the. injured hold, and the next deck above; or

other suitable means ma be employed for and form of the'vessel. The compartment is next closed air-tight by the'application to the hatchway of a plate or covering d. This plate is applied against the edge of the 00ammg, a rubber gasket being interposed so as to form a tight joint. In applying the plate or coverin and its gasket, suitable means should be emp oyed for holding the same temporarily'against the coaming before the air pressure is turned on. This may be accomplished by means of vertical stay boltsE sustained by the deck and passing downward through the covering. Or other means may be em loyed for this purpose, the idea being that t e late being applied to the inner side compartment of workmen while the pressure is maintained therein so that an inspection ofthe injured compartment may be made, and if necessary the leaks repaired. This is effected by the application preferably to the covering of the hatchway of an air-lock such as is employed in connection with caissons,

and consisting of a chamber F with a door f communicating with the outside, andwith a second. doorf communicating withthe hold. The next step in the method consists in intro ducing air under pressure into the compartment in order to expel the water which has leaked therein. appropriate manner. As shown in Fig. 2, :an

' air-compressor G is mounted on the upper deck or any'appropriate location, and driven by an engine H, the compressor being con nected by pipe 9 with the leaking compartment, with the result that when the air is forced into said compartment the water will be expelled through the hole. While the pressure is maintained,.workmen, through the medium of the air-lock, may enter the hold and make such repairs as may be neces- F If the hole is stove in the side of the compartment, the application of the air ressure will force the water out to the levelo the top of the hole so that it may be closed by applying a covering from the top downward. Wherrthe covering has thus been applied so as to prevent the further access of water,

- that remaining may be removed in any suitable manner, either by pumps, but preferably the water is blown out through the scupper pipes, or a blow pipe may be introduced and the removal of the water effected in this manner.

It to understood that the above method of procedure may be applied'in con- .nection with any hold or compartment Which has become injured, the essential'idea being sure.

compartments from the compressor.

This maybe done in any that theinjured com'artmentbe rendered air-tight; that means e'pr'ovided for theintroduction of air under pressure therein to expel the water and further thatmeans be rovided forthe access of workmen into the injured hold, While the pressure is maintained. When two or more compartments have been injured and the water has leaked there'- -in,. they may all be treated in the same man-.'

ner, and the air introduced simultaneously into all of them from a single source of Pres- Under these circumstances, the degree of pressure of air necessary to expel the water may vary in the different compartments according to the location of the the list of thevesseland other conditlons such as would causeithe existence of different hydrostatic pressures. To meet these conditions, it is proposed to provide foradjusting or varying t e air pressure admitted to the several compartments," according to the resistance to-be encountered. This may be effected in a variety ofways, but convento the pipes through which the air enters the Having thus described our invention what We claim is iently by the applicationrof reducingvalves 1.' The method of treating leaking stranded vessels, which consists in sealing air-tight or substantially so the usual communicatlon of. the leaking compartment with the out side, providing said compartment with means air pressure in excess of that of tlie'atmospheric air, and finally introducing air under. ressure into said compartment to expel the leaking water; whereby'workmen may enter while thepressure 'is maintained, and make 'for the entrance of workmen therein under an examination of the interior of the com- 7 partment.

2. The method of treating leaking stranded vessels, which consists in rendering the leaking compartment air-tight or substantially so, introducing air under pressure therein to expel the water, providing means for the access of workmen into said compartment While the air pressure ismaintamed,

and finally re airing the leak. 3. The met 0d of treating leaking stranded vessels, which consists in closing air-tight the ordinary communications of the leaklng compartment with the outside, introducing air under pressure intosaid compartment,

the leak, and finally removing any water remaining after the leak is closed. 4.. The method of treating leaking strandproviding for the access of workmen therein. while the an pressure is maintained, closing ed vessels, in which the leak or hole is in the side of the compartment, which'method consists in closing sa d compartment air-tighter substantially so, introducing air under preshands this eighteenth day of December 1906 sure therein to expel the Water to the top of 111 the presence'of two fittQSdIlg Witnesses. 16 the hole, provldmg for the entrance of Workmen into said compartment While the air I WOTHERSPQON' 5 pressure is maintained, and applying a cov- ROMA OWEN KING ering progressively to the hole from the top Witnesses downward. GANBURY A. SEDDEN,

Tn testimony whereof We hereunto set our EMILY HAIL. 

